CENTER FOR GLOBAL STUDIEShttp://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad
TUSCULUM COLLEGEThu, 02 Oct 2014 13:57:20 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1Tusculum students explore politics, history and economy of Malta during study abroad triphttp://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/tusculum-students-explore-politics-history-and-economy-of-malta-during-study-abroad-trip/
http://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/tusculum-students-explore-politics-history-and-economy-of-malta-during-study-abroad-trip/#commentsMon, 14 Apr 2014 13:13:19 +0000Erik Robinettehttp://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/?p=729GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – Six Tusculum College students had the opportunity to explore some of the oldest known free-standing structures on ea

rth, talk to business leaders about their experiences in the European Union and learn about international law during a trip to Malta in March.

The six students were accompanied by Dr. Troy Goodale, assistant professor of political science, for the trip to the small island nation south of Italy on March 8 -15. This is the third year for a group of Tusculum students to travel to Malta and the second trip that has included both students from the Residential College program and the Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) program for working adults.

The trip’s purpose was to give the students an insight into international law, economics and history of Malta, said Dr. Goodale Tuesday evening during a presentation by the students about the trip to the campus community.

“It was an awesome trip,” said Christian Grumbach of Oak Ridge, who encouraged those attending to study abroad. “It is a great opportunity. I would highly recommend going on a study abroad trip. You can learn a lot.” Grumbach is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration through the GPS program.

The students stayed at the University of Malta, where they attended a class about international law. Grumbach said that the class focused on laws regarding search and rescue on the high seas, which he found interesting because of his background in the military.

Malta’s rich history was the focus of several of the excursions by the students, including to prehistoric temples that are considered to be some of the oldest free-standing structures on Earth and pre-date the Egyptian pyramids.

Describing the temple of Hagar Qin, Heather Hammack noted that it was built so that the light from the summer solstice strikes an interior stone. Hammack, who is from Maryville, is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in organizational management in the GPS program.

In the Mnajdra Temple, located about 500 feet down the hill from the Hagar Qin, the students discovered that it was built in such a way to not only mark the summer solstice but also the spring and autumn equinoxes. A museum at the temple sites contained objects found inside the temples, including statutes that are believed to be related to fertility beliefs of the builders of the temples.

The third temple the students visited was Ggantija, which gets its name for the Maltese word for “large.” Hammack said they had a long walk to reach the temple, which has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

While the students did much walking in their visits to the temples, they enjoyed a boat ride to travel to historic Birgu, which was an earlier capital of the nation. “The ocean was so beautiful, and the history is so rich,” said Grumbach. “I learned a lot and the culture was awesome.”

The students also visited the Domus Roman, a Roman villa that was unearthed during a construction project. The students said a museum was literally built around the villa, giving visitors an idea what it would have been like to be inside the villa.

The students also visited Mdina, one of the oldest cities of Malta, and St. Paul’s Cathedral, named in honor of the Apostle Paul, who was shipwrecked on the island on his travels to Rome. The island’s people are primarily Roman Catholic, said Christina Murrell of Maryville, who is pursuing a business administration degree. The island has a church on almost every street corner, the students noted.

The striking Blue Grotto was one of the highlights of the trip for Ryan Norton, an art design major from Greeneville. Some of the students took a boat ride through the series of sea caverns. “The water is so blue,” Hammack said. “And it is so clear you can see to the bottom.”

The students noted that while they saw incredible architecture, the country is in an almost constant state of renovation because of the damage caused by the winds and salty air on the island.

As a student with a background in business, exploring the economic side of the nation was fascinating, said Debbie Smith of Knoxville, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration. The students visited the Malta Financial Services Authority, which is the agency that regulates all aspects of financial for the nation.

There they learned more about Malta’s entrance into the European Union. The European Union was established following World War II initially to foster cooperation between nations in Europe, explained Smith.

Malta joined the European Union in 2004. During their visit to the Attrans, an international transport company, the owner told them that joining the European Union helped them as previously they had to go through the differing customs processes and tariffs in each country but now it is uniform, Smith noted.

“They are also very frugal, recycling and repurposing all they can,” she said. “Nothing is ever wasted.”

A trip to Gozo, one of the three islands that make up the nation, provided insights into history, business and culture. The island can only be reached by a ferry, said Hannah Lefler, a psychology major from Chapel Hill, and this lack of access has been debated for years as it limits commerce on the island. A bridge between the main island of Malta and Gozo is proposed, but so far not much progress has been made toward its becoming a reality, she added.

Victoria, the main city on Gozo, was first fortified in the Bronze Age and inside its walls are very narrow streets. The students visited three museums – one dedicated to forklore, another to archeology and the third to natural science.

The students also discovered a thriving jewelry trade in the city. The jewelry was made by hand and was inexpensive. Gozo is also known for its glass production and the glass items were much more expensive, the students noted.

A visit to the U.S. Embassy allowed the students to talk to employees about what they do and the life of a diplomat.

As they ended their presentation, they encouraged the students in attendance to travel to Malta or other international destinations for study. “If you have the opportunity, just go,” said Hammack. “It is the best money you’ll ever spend.”

Additional opportunities for study in Malta may be offered soon as the college is entering an exchange relationship with the University of Malta, which will allow Tusculum students to study there as well as University of Malta students to study at Tusculum, said Dr. Geir Bergvin, director of the Center for Global Studies.

Tusculum College, the oldest college in Tennessee and the 28th oldest in the nation, is a liberal arts institution committed to utilizing the civic arts in developing educated citizens distinguished by academic excellence, public service and qualities of Judeo-Christian character. Approximately twenty-two hundred students are enrolled on the main campus in Greeneville and three off-site locations in East Tennessee. The academic programs for both traditional-aged students and working adults served through the Graduate and Professional Studies program are delivered using focused calendars whereby students enroll in one course at a time.

]]>http://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/tusculum-students-explore-politics-history-and-economy-of-malta-during-study-abroad-trip/feed/0Study abroad trip to Ireland scheduled for Block 1 of 2014-15 academic yearhttp://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/study-abroad-trip-to-ireland-scheduled-for-block-1-of-2014-15-academic-year/
http://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/study-abroad-trip-to-ireland-scheduled-for-block-1-of-2014-15-academic-year/#commentsFri, 04 Apr 2014 13:00:06 +0000Erik Robinettehttp://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/?p=725The first study abroad trip of the 2014-15 will begin just days after the start of the academic year.

Students in ENGL 337-10 Literature Abroad will be traveling to Dublin, Ireland, for 10 days of touring some of the important sites in Dublin and the surrounding regions. The trip is scheduled for Aug. 24 through Sept. 3. The itinerary for the trip is designed to explore the history, politics and literary tradition of Ireland from a home base in Dublin, according to Dr. Desirae Matherly, assistant professor of English, who is teaching the course.

During the trip, students will explore sites that tell the story of Ireland through pre-history to modern times. The itinerary includes visits to Newgrange, a pre-historic site outside Dublin that is a World Heritage site, and to the Sixth Century monastery at Athlone, where one of the texts that students will read for the course, “The Tain,” was found.

As part of the course, students will be reading from the earliest Irish literature through the modern era. Other literary-related sites that will be visited include Trim Castle, which is the site of the Swift Satire Festival; the Royal Irish Academy, which houses early Irish manuscripts; the Trinity College Library, where The Book of Kells is housed; the Dublin Writers Museum, the James Joyce Center, and Abbey Theatre, which was founded by W. B. Yeats and Lady Augusta Gregory and is the first ever state-subsidized theater in the English speaking world.

The students will explore St. Patrick’s Cathedral, St. Stephen’s Green, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and Glasnevin Cemetery, the resting place for over 1.5 million people. The Glasnevin Museum tells the story of modern Ireland through interactive exhibitions and cemetery tours.

A view of the natural landscape will be provided during a trip to the Glendalough Monastery and a hike through the Wicklow Mountains National Park.

Exploring the political history of the nation, students will visit the Kilmainham Gaol, where leaders of various rebellions were detained, and the General Post Office, the site of the Easter Uprising.

The cost for students for the trip is $1,650. This amount covers a round-trip airline ticket, ground transportation in and around Dublin and trips to and from the airport in the U.S. Lodging and excursion costs are also included in the overall cost.

Not included are food expenses during the trip, the cost to obtain a passport, health and medical insurance, course materials and miscellaneous costs for souvenirs.

Interested students are encouraged to contact Kristi Dalton in the Financial Aid to learn about what financial assistance may be available to qualified students.

It is important for students do this as soon as possible because payment for the trip is due by May 10. Space is also limited on the trip with 12 spots available for students. The first 12 to pay will be allowed to take the trip.

If you are interested in the trip or have any questions, please contact Dr. Geir Bergvin, director of the Center for Global Studies, at gbergvin@tusculum.edu or by phone at 636-7300 ext. 5012.

]]>http://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/study-abroad-trip-to-ireland-scheduled-for-block-1-of-2014-15-academic-year/feed/0Study Abroad Fair provides opportunity for students to explore international study optionshttp://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/study-abroad-fair-provides-opportunity-for-students-to-explore-international-study-options/
http://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/study-abroad-fair-provides-opportunity-for-students-to-explore-international-study-options/#commentsWed, 02 Apr 2014 16:44:51 +0000Erik Robinettehttp://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/?p=714Students talk with a representative from Knowledge Exchange Institute during the Study Abroad Fair Wednesday at Tusculum College. The fair, held in the Living Room of the Niswonger Commons, gave students the opportunity to learn more about options for international study. In addition to the Knowledge Exchange Institute representative, students were able to learn about scheduled trips and financial aid availability from Dr. Geir Bergvin, director of the Center for Global Studies at Tusculum. Information about international study programs was also available from the American Institute for Foreign Study, Veritas, CIEE Study Abroad, the School for Field Studies and Butler University’s Institute for Study Abroad. The event was sponsored by the Center for Global Studies and the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
]]>http://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/study-abroad-fair-provides-opportunity-for-students-to-explore-international-study-options/feed/0Tusculum College students and faculty visit Barcelona, Spain for English study abroad coursehttp://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/tusculum-college-students-and-faculty-visit-barcelona-spain-for-english-study-abroad-course/
http://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/tusculum-college-students-and-faculty-visit-barcelona-spain-for-english-study-abroad-course/#commentsTue, 18 Mar 2014 16:55:24 +0000Erik Robinettehttp://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/?p=697

Students in Tusculum College’s “Seminar in Literature and Society” course visited several sites in Barcelona, Spain that were influential to the writers they were studying, including the Cathedral at Montserrat.

On January 14-25, 12 Tusculum College students studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain, alongside Heather Patterson, chair of the Tusculum College English department and associate professor of English, as a part of Tusculum’s global studies program.

As part of the course “Seminar in Literature and Society,” the class focused on how writers respond to or take the lead on topics of global importance, the complexity of world issues and the diversity of perspectives internationally.

Students participating included Meagan Talley, a junior math education major from Fairview; Jessica Kagias, a junior education major from Middlesboro, Ky.; Melissa Mauceri, a senior journalism major from Pigeon Forge; Herchell Bridges, a junior athletic training major from Fairview; Destini Wingerter, a senior English major from Bristol; Katie Capel, a senior digital media major from Waverly; Carnes White, a junior creative writing major from Montgomery, Ala.; Andrew Hollingshead, a sophomore graphic design major from Tellico Plains; Jeffery Peck, a junior business management major from Tazewell; Trenikia Shelton, a senior journalism major from Memphis; Andrea Wilcox, a junior athletic training major from Knoxville, and Amanda Grempel, a senior athletic training major from Blakeslee, Pa.

Students visited several sites and went on many tours in Barcelona, including the George Orwell walking tour. For the class students had been assigned to read Orwell’s “Homage to Catalonia.”On the tour they visited the Museum of the History of the City, as well as a cathedral during the walking tour of the Gothic Quarter. They took an excursion of Montserrat, home to the Virgin of Montserrat, and a tour of La Sagrada Familia. Other stops included a visit to the National Museum of Catalan Art and tours of Eixample, which gave students a chance to learn about Modernista architecture, and El Borne.

“Barcelona was the most beautiful place I have ever been,” said Talley. “Learning about a place while actually being there was an experience I will never forget,” added Wingerter. “Barcelona was by far the most incredible journey I have ever experienced. The city was beautiful, and I hope I get a chance to visit it again someday.”

The students all seemed to be struck by Barcelona’s beauty. Hollingshead said, “My favorite part of Barcelona was relaxing and reading in the garden and the beautiful photogenic opportunities of the city.”

After returning to Tusculum the group shared their experience with a photo presentation of their academic trip for the campus population. The students described all of the tours and talked about Barcelona’s history and culture.

Tusculum College, the oldest college in Tennessee and the 28th oldest in the nation, is a liberal arts institution committed to utilizing the civic arts in developing educated citizens distinguished by academic excellence, public service and qualities of Judeo-Christian character. Approximately twenty-one hundred students are enrolled on the main campus in Greeneville and three off-site locations in East Tennessee. The academic programs for both traditional-aged students and working adults served through the Graduate and Professional Studies program are delivered using focused calendars whereby students enroll in one course at a time.

Andrew Hollingshead of Tellico Plains visits the National Catalan Museum of Art in Barcelona, Spain. He was one of 12 Tusculum College students who participated in a study abroad English course earlier this semester.

]]>http://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/tusculum-college-students-and-faculty-visit-barcelona-spain-for-english-study-abroad-course/feed/0Tusculum College Medieval Europe class explores Norway on a study-abroad triphttp://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/tusculum-college-medieval-europe-class-explores-norway-on-a-study-abroad-trip-2/
http://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/tusculum-college-medieval-europe-class-explores-norway-on-a-study-abroad-trip-2/#commentsMon, 02 Dec 2013 16:10:46 +0000Erik Robinettehttp://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/?p=670Eight Tusculum students, their professor and a community member experienced Norwegian culture from October 10-21 as a part of Tusculum’s global studies program. The trip was a part of an upper division history course on Medieval Europe and focused on Norwegian and Viking history from the 11th to the 14th century.

The group included Erika Allison, a sophomore museum studies major from Alpharetta, Ga.; Ryan Barker, a senior history and creative writing major from Laurens, S.C.; Jeremy Hobson, a business administration major in the graduate and professional studies program from Knoxville; William Jennings, a senior history education major from Greeneville; Trevor Long, a senior political science major from Atkins, Va.; Melissa Mauceri, a senior journalism major from Pigeon Forge; Tynan Shadle, a senior museum studies major from Lubbock, Tx.; Joel Van Amberg, associate professor of history and chair of the department of history and museum While in Norway, the students visited several cities including Oslo, Tønsberg, Bergen and Trondheim. With each city settled in a different part of Norway, the group was able to experience a wide variety of cultures, environments and regions.

“My Norway experience was an eye opening adventure,” said Mauceri. “The scenery in Norway is absolutely breathtaking. There are beautiful cathedrals and ancient buildings that are fascinating.”

She added, “The people are very friendly and easy to communicate with since they speak both English and Norwegian. I would love to go back to Norway one day and see even more of the country.”

In Oslo, the group visited several historic museums sponsored by the University of Oslo. In Tønsberg the group saw Viking burial mounds and a Viking feasting hall at the Midgard Historisk Senter. In addition, they were able to row a reconstructed Viking long ship into a fjord. Bergen, Norway’s oldest city the group learned was a major trading port in the Medieval era. When traveling in Trondheim the group was treated to a tour of the city by Dr. Geir Bergvin, Tusculum associate professor for marketing and director of the center for global studies, who is a native to the city.

Other experiences the group had on the trip included a cross-country scenic train ride from Oslo to Bergin, a traditional Norwegian dinner at Bergvin’s brother’s house and free time to explore the cities on their own. The six-hour train ride passed across several glacial formations and fjords while moving through the mountainous Norwegian countryside.

“I was very pleased that students had the opportunity to travel to Europe and experience directly the history they were studying,” said Van Amberg. “One of the strengths of our block plan is that we can enrich the classroom environment with travel to sites of historical significance without interfering with other courses students have to take.”

After returning to Tusculum the group made a public presentation on the trip which included photos from the trip. During the presentation the group elaborated on the culture, scenery, and some of the history of Norway including a civil war fought in the country during the middle ages.

On Monday, Feb. 4, students from Tusculum College offered a presentation of their recent study abroad trip to Barcelona, Spain. Students left for Spain on January 12, and returned on January 23.

Travelers included two Tusculum professors: Heather Patterson, assistant professor of English and chair of the English department and Wayne Thomas, associate professor of English and chair of the fine arts department, as well as thirteen students.

Students included Justin Reed, a senior from Florence, S.C.; Austen Herron, a junior from Durham, N.C.; Joe Borden, a senior from Lyles, Tenn.; Hilary Nowatski, a junior from Kingsport; Nathan Riddle, a senior from Danton, Ga.; Cheyenne Hartman, a senior from Louisa, Va.; Allison Harris, a senior from Franklin, Tenn.; Jeff Roberts, a junior from Breenbrier, Tenn.; Billie Jennings, a senior from Mountain City, Tenn.; Trevor Long, a junior from Atkins, Va.; Andrew Baker, a senior from Athens, Tenn.; James Cox, a senior from Greeneville, and William Kemper, a senior from Greeneville.

The presentation came in a unique form as students utilized the Allison Gallery inside the Rankin House on Tusculum’s Greeneville campus. Pictures of various sights taken during the trip spanned the gallery, providing viewers with an opportunity to glimpse Catalonian culture.

While attendants moved through the gallery, viewing images of locations such as the monastery at Montserrat, Sagrada Familia and the Spanish Gothic quarter, members of Patterson’s “Advanced Studies in Fiction” class read from works they crafted from inspiration received during and after the trip. Students in Thomas’ class were participating in “Seminar in Literature in Society.”

The presentation also included a short documentary film created by the students that explained their responses to the immersion of Catalonian culture. Senior creative writing major, Reed explained, “Barcelona is a hotbed for conflict between Catalonian Separatists and Spanish Unionists. You walk around and can see separatist flags hanging from apartment terraces and building rafters, realizing the distinction this culture has from the whole of Spain. They want this complex crisis known, and in coming back I want the global public to become more informed of it.”

Outside of the distinctly political atmosphere currently embedded in Barcelona to the city’s historical significance, Professor Thomas said, “having the opportunity, in a single day, to walk from streets that are less than 50 years old, to ones that are almost 2,000 is amazing. You become caught up in the beauty of it.”

]]>http://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/tusculum-college-students-study-abroad-in-barcelona-spain/feed/0Study abroad experience in Barcelona, Spain is “life changing” for Tusculum studentshttp://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/study-abroad-experience-in-barcelona-spain-is-life-changing-for-tusculum-students/
http://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/study-abroad-experience-in-barcelona-spain-is-life-changing-for-tusculum-students/#commentsThu, 01 Nov 2012 20:42:36 +0000tusculumhttp://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/?p=641Five Tusculum College students spent two months in Barcelona, Spain, as part of the school’s Global Studies program, living, working and studying immersed in the culture of their host country.

Participating students included: Andy Goellner, a senior business, accounting and sports management major from Denver, Colo.; David Talley, a senior from Piney Flats enrolled in independent study; Victoria Hill, a junior psychology major from Moorestown, N.J.; Samantha Underwood, a senior business major from Muncie, Ind., and Paige Fultz, a junior political science major from Mascot. The five gave a presentation to other students, faculty and staff about their experiences on Monday, October 22.

As part of their program, the students participated in an international marketing course, earning nine college credit hours during their two month stay this past summer. They lived, studied and worked in Barcelona, Spain, but several were able to travel to other locations in Europe during their time abroad.

“When you stay somewhere for two months, you feel like you live there,” said Talley. “Not everything is planned, and you become part of it.”

Four of the five participated in internships during their visit, working in varied locations such as business offices, hotel operations and tourism. According to Underwood, her experience helped her because of its variety. “I learned a lot about revenue management and marketing of the hospitality industry,” she said.

According to Goellner, while the trip was not inexpensive, it was an investment he feels was well worth it. “The experience was incredible and the connections – we met people from all over the world – can be invaluable later,” he said.

Talley said his internship experience was the hardest thing he had ever done in his life. “It was a huge learning experience. I learned more in those two months than a year of college.”

Additionally, the students talked about their cultural exposure, including dealing with the language barrier, with only Hill speaking Spanish. They also spent a lot of time in independent exploration. Side trips included Rome, London and Carcassonne, France.

“I refuse to believe that anyone could take a trip like this and not come back personally changed. If you do this, you will have a better view of how the world works,” said Talley.

According to Dr. Geir Bergvin, director of the Global Studies program and associate professor of marketing at Tusculum College, several upcoming trips are already planned, including a return trip to Barcelona in the fall and an upcoming trip to Malta over spring break.

Anyone interested in more information on the program or who would like to find out about Tusculum College’s Center for Global Studies should contact Bergvin at 423-636-7300.

The Center for Global Studies was formed in spring 2008 and is located in the Pilloni Office on the ground floor of the Thomas J. Garland Library. The mission is to “enhance the capacity of individuals and organizations to address local and global challenges through building relationships with communities, institutions of higher learning and organizations globally.”

Tusculum College students will have the opportunity to experience studying in Barcelona, Spain, in an upcoming trip being planned for January by the College’s Center for Global Studies.

Students on the trip will be in one of two fifth block courses: ENGL 450 Advanced Studies in Fiction taught by Heather Patterson, assistant professor of English, and ENGL 402 Seminar in Literature and Society taught by Wayne Thomas, associate professor of English. Students will leave for Spain on January 12, 2013, and return stateside on January 23. The ENGL 402 is an official alternative to CMNS 480 and is open to all majors.

Twelve students will accompany the two professors to Barcelona where they will stay in campus housing at ESEI, a prestigious private school located in the center of the city, or in apartments near the campus.

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain and the trip’s 10-day itinerary includes visits to historical and cultural sites inside the city.While mornings will be primarily devoted to classroom time at the university, afternoons will be reserved for guided trips, including visits to the Sagrada Familia church, Antoni Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece and one of Barcelona’s most popular attractions; the Liceu Theater, one of the most important opera houses in Europe and one of the most beautiful attractions of Barcelona;the Museum of the History of the City, which includes remains of the Roman city of Barcino; the distinctive and ornate Palau de la Musica Catalana concert hall; the Gothic Quarter (Barrio Gotico) at the heart of old Barcelona; the National Museum of Catalan Art; the Santa Maria del Mar, a Gothic cathedral, and El Born, one of themost fashionable parts of the city.

Students will also be traveling to the Dali Museum in Figueres. The museum, built on the former Figueres theater, contains the broadest range of works from the artistic career of Salvador Dali.

The students will also have two free days in the schedule to explore the city and visit sites or do activities that fall into their interest areas.

In preparation for the trip, students must obtain a passport and provide proof of medical insurance.

The cost of the trip is $1,850 per student, which can be paid by the student or paid through a financial aid option. This fee does not include purchases of souvenirs participants may want to make or food costs. Payment for the trip must be made by November 16, 2012. The first 12 students to make full payment will be allowed to take part in the Barcelona trip. Twelve is the maximum that can participate in this study abroad opportunity because of the housing accommodations at the university.

For more information about the trip, please contact Dr. Geir Bergvin, director of the Center for Global Studies and associate professor of marketing at gbergvin@tusculum.edu or at campus ext. 5012.

]]>http://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/upcoming-study-abroad-trip-offers-opportunity-to-visit-barcelona/feed/0Entrepreneurship focus of international videoconference at Tusculumhttp://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/entrepreneurship-focus-of-international-videoconference-at-tusculum/
http://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/entrepreneurship-focus-of-international-videoconference-at-tusculum/#commentsFri, 26 Oct 2012 18:43:36 +0000tusculumhttp://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/?p=625GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – Does the United States have an edge over the rest of the world in entrepreneurship?

This question was the primary topic of the most recent international videoconference held Tuesday, Oct. 23, at Tusculum College.

Students in the college’s Business Club and the Study Abroad and Global Awareness (SAGA) organization along with faculty from the School of Business had the opportunity to discuss the environment for entrepreneurship in Europe, Africa and the United States with students from a university in Norway.

“This is a good opportunity for the students at both schools to discuss entrepreneurship and hear different perspectives on it,” said Dr. Geir Bergvin, associate professor of marketing and director of the Center for Global Studies at Tusculum.

Participating from the university in Norway were students in an international marketing class from 12 different nations, including England, Russia, Ghana and Denmark in addition to Norway.

Prior to the videoconference, both groups of students were asked to read the article, “The United States of Entrepreneurs: America still leads the world” from The Economist magazine, which served as a starting point for their transcontinental conversation. The article states that the United States does lead the world in entrepreneurism due to such factors as a culture that celebrates and encourages innovation and entrepreneurial risk taking, a well-developed venture capital investment industry, an open immigration policy and a close relationship between higher education and industry.

Beginning their transatlantic conversation, the students at Tusculum and in Norway both agreed that the article was biased towards the United States. With the acknowledgement of that fact, Tusculum student Luis Zamora, who is a native of Chile, asked the students in Norway to describe how entrepreneurship is encouraged in each of their countries.

One of the students from Denmark responded that programs exist in that country to assist entrepreneurs in starting a business through which they receive legal, marketing and management counsel. Another student from Denmark said that people are being encouraged to start new businesses. Both said that there are limited funds available from the government.

This exchange was typical of the videoconference as the students shared their knowledge and experiences with each other.

Dr. Bergvin served as facilitator for the conference, asking the students questions about various issues raised in the article, such as whether the article made a valid point in its assertion that individuals in other nations, particularly in Europe, have more to lose if an entrepreneurial venture fails.

A student from Ghana said that people in his nation are deterred from entrepreneurism because of the fear of bankruptcy. Students from Europe agreed that laws about bankruptcy in some countries do affect the willingness of individuals to take the risk of starting their own business.

Funds for starting entrepreneurial businesses typically come from individuals or banks in their native countries, but there is not widespread governmental support, the students from Norway said.

Tusculum students noted that there is governmental support through tax cuts and other programs that assist entrepreneurs in the United States. The students also discussed the tendency for individuals with capital making decisions to invest in ventures in their local community or region.

The decision by students graduating college to start their own businesses or even start them in college as a response to the global economic recession and the lack of job availability was noted by students in both groups as another reason for the rise of entrepreneurship.

The videoconference took place in Tusculum’s newest distance learning classroom, which is equipped with multiple flat display screens, audio equipment, cameras and laptops.

International videoconferences are scheduled throughout the year through the Center for Global Studies to give students the opportunity to interact with students from other countries on various topics. Conferences have been held for students in specific courses or for students in a particular major.

]]>http://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/entrepreneurship-focus-of-international-videoconference-at-tusculum/feed/0Tusculum students, faculty learn about European Union’s effects on business first-hand in Maltahttp://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/tusculum-students-faculty-learn-about-european-unions-effects-on-business-first-hand-in-malta/
http://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/tusculum-students-faculty-learn-about-european-unions-effects-on-business-first-hand-in-malta/#commentsWed, 02 May 2012 23:07:12 +0000tusculumhttp://web.tusculum.edu/studyabroad/?p=603GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – A group of 10 students and two faculty members from Tusculum College learned about how joining the European Union has affected Malta and about the nation’s history and culture in a recent trip to the Mediterranean country.

The students, who included business, political science and education majors, spent their spring break at Malta University. They were accompanied by Dr. Troy Goodale, assistant professor of political science, and Dr. Tom McFarland, professor of business administration. The group shared their experiences in a presentation to the Tusculum College community on April 11.

A typical day for the students included attending a lecture at the university during the morning and taking trips to business or historical sites in the afternoon.

One of those trips was to the Malta Experience, which is an audio-visual attraction in the capital city of Valletta that tells the history of the island nation from prehistoric times to the present and helped give the students a deeper understanding of the places they would be visiting and the country itself.

Among the historical sites they visited was the city of Mdina, the area where the apostle Paul stayed after the boat in which he was traveling shipwrecked on the island. “It was exciting to walk the same streets that Paul walked,” said Kirstie Gust, a senior from Rutledge, majoring in business administration with a concentration in accounting and management.

The students visited Attrans, a transportation company. “It was one of the more interesting places we visited said, Trey Whitfield. “One of the focuses of the trip was to learn about the European Union and how membership affects a member country. At Attrans we saw how joining the European Union has helped them to expand and grow.” Whitfield is a senior majoring in business administration with a concentration in accounting from Greeneville, Tenn.

The political workings and laws of the European Union were also explored by the students. Trevor Long, a sophomore majoring in political science from Atkins, Va., said that while the European Union’s political structure is similar to America’s with three branches, there are significant differences legally. “As a political science major, learning about international law will definitely help me in my studies in the future,” he said.

The U.S. Embassy in Malta was another interesting visit, the students said. There they learned about the embassy’s work in Malta, including how staff worked to help American citizens get out of Libya during the recent conflict, as well as how an individual can attain a position working in an embassy or international relations.

Lauren Taylor was the only education major on the trip. Taylor said she talked to the local people they would meet at places and ask them about their education system and was able to get an insight into it from their responses. Taylor is a senior from Kissimmee, Fla.

The group said that they found the people in Malta to be friendly and welcoming. Jill Corum, a junior from Knoxville majoring in business administration, said she did not know what to expect in regards to the reception the people would give the Tusculum students, but found them to be very friendly. A major benefit of traveling abroad is to be exposed to other cultures and people groups, she said.

Traveling and studying abroad can be life changing, agreed Bo Cordell, a junior majoring in business administration from Cincinnati, Ohio. “You can use what you learned for the rest of your life,” he said. “It changes you as a business person and gives you an international perspective.”

Gust said that the trip helped her to better realize how everyone is living in a global society. “As an accounting major, it will good to know how other systems operate. An international experience is also good as a talking point.” She added that she was able to talk about her Malta trip on a recent trip to the graduate school she will be attending.

The Malta trip is a first step in an effort to form a strong relationship with Malta University and provide Tusculum students with additional international study opportunities.

Last year, Tusculum hosted an international exhibit that displayed a photographic study of the Malta’s prehistoric temples and artifacts. Malta’s ambassador to the United States, Mark Miceli, visited campus during the exhibit and made a presentation to students about the nation’s history and its role in the European Union. The exhibit and trip to campus were coordinated through the assistance of Dr. Bruce Shine and his wife, Betsy. Shine, a 1960 graduate of Tusculum, has close ties with Malta through his years teaching at the International Maritime Law Institute.

Tusculum College, the oldest college in Tennessee and the 28th oldest in the nation, is a liberal arts institution committed to utilizing the civic arts in developing educated citizens distinguished by academic excellence, public service and qualities of Judeo-Christian character. Approximately twenty-two hundred students are enrolled on the main campus in Greeneville and three off-site locations in East Tennessee. The academic programs for both traditional-aged students and working adults served through the Graduate and Professional Studies program are delivered using focused calendars whereby students enroll in one course at a time.

-TC-

Eugenia Estes

Associate Director of College Communications

Tusculum College provides a liberal arts education in a Judeo-Christian and civic arts environment.